Children’s Hearing Test
Hearing tests do require your child’s cooperation, but our clinicians are very good at engaging with your child to get them to do the tests required. It is, however, a good idea to ensure your child is well and not too tired when they come for their hearing test. If your child is unwell on the day, you can call us to reschedule.
We also know that some children can be a little anxious about having their hearing tested. If your child wants to bring their favourite teddy to their appointment then they are of course welcome to come along. Our clinicians are trained in children’s hearing tests and will work with your child to put them at ease.
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Types of tests
- For small children under about the age of five, our clinicians make the hearing test into a game (called Play Audiometry). This usually involves getting the child to perform an element of the game whenever they hear the sound. Our clinicians have a range of games available to them so they can choose one that engages your child or change games if they lose interest. Older children will press a button when they hear a sound.
- The clinician will also check the middle health of your child’s ear by placing a small probe in their ear to see how the eardrum responds to a gentle puff of air. While this can feel a little weird, it is not painful. If your child is young, they may get you to hold your child while they do this – it is reassuring for your child and helps to keep them still.
- The clinician will also do a speech discrimination test to see how well your child understands and responds to spoken words. How this test is done will depend on the age and developmental level of your child. It may involve asking your child to point to an object or picture when they hear its name, or asking your child to repeat words back as they hear them if they are old enough to do so.
If at any time you have questions about the tests, the results, or the next steps, just make sure you ask your clinician.
Reasons to have your child’s hearing tested
There are several reasons why you may wish to have your child’s hearing tested. These may include:
- Your child’s speech or language are not developing as expected or go backwards;
- Your child is having difficulties learning to read;
- Your child is not progressing at school or not settling into school well;
- Your child has a history of ear infections;
- Your child is not socialising at an age-appropriate level with other children;
- There is a history of hearing loss in your family;
- You are concerned about your child’s hearing for any reason.
When it comes to your child’s hearing, it is better to be cautious. If you have any concerns, contact us to book them in for a hearing test.
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Or if you have any questions, let us know and we will get back to you. We are here to help, if you are not sure where to start to or what you need, get in touch and we will help you.